Gumming machine



J. G. SWAB GUMMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 vwewcoz Jay GSn ab @3913 M5 QMoM w S I Oct. 13, 1925.

J. G. SWAB GUMMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 avww woz Jay G Sta a2? QHZQM/LWS WW w Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAY G. WAR, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 HENRY TRENCHARD, m, 01

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Q GUMM'ING MACHINE.

Application filed August 16, 192? Serial No. 657,688.'

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY G. swim, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, borough of Brooklyn,

6 Kings County, New York, have invented an Improvement in Gumming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for gumming sheets and the 1 like and more particularly to conveyor mechanism for carrying the gummed work 7 through the apparatus. I

The present embodiment of the invention has been developed in connection with apll paratus for applying gum to the flaps of envelops and drying said gum before stacking the envelopes, and such an apparatus will be described for the urpose of illustrating the rinciples of t e invention and U indicating t e manner in which the same ma be applied.

Xpparatus for applying gum to the flaps of envelopes and drying the same for example in the case of envelopes of the larger sizes has commonly been so arranged that the envelo es are held between conveying devices wl iile passing through a drying region and thereafter the envelopes are suitably delivered to a stacking mechanism. A 80 common form of such apparatus includes a drum having a pluralityof parallel cords encircling the drum. and holding; themvelopes thereagainst while the drum rotates in front of a fan, heater or other dry- 86 ing device. In such apparatus, however, the cords when they engage the gummed area of the envelope leave a permanent mark thereon which is considered objectionable by the trade and there is a demand for envelo es not so marked. Furthermore the cor s become stifi as the gum adheres thereto and frequently they break under the weight of the envelopes, a weight which may amount to 4.0 or pounds when envelopes 66 of the larger sizes are being operated upon. Such breakage usually spoils a considerable amount of work, interrupts the work of the machine and causes inconvenience and workfor the operative.

5 It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved conveying mechafor conveymg articles having gummed flexible element which engages the surfaces which will notobjectionably mark description lected illustrative embodiment of the invention and in which Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of a dryer ap aratus for drying freshly gummed envelop aps.

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation showing a number of envelops carried by the conveyor apparatus and the relative position of the conveyor .chains.

Figure 3 is-an enlarged detail view of a portion of the apparatus.

In the ap aratus to be described for the purpose 0 illustrating the invention, gummed work is supported between a r0- tatable drum element and a cooperating flexible conveying element partially encircling the drum element one of which elements is provided with a plurality of projections to provide relatively small areas or points for engaging the gum. As shown, it is the surfaces and is provided with pro ections. In the arrangement shown, a conveyor or drying drum 5 is partially encircled by a plurality of chains 6 between which chains and the drum freshly gummed envelo s are carried arranged in overlapping re a-' tion with the flap of one envelop extending a certain distance beyond the flap of the next adjacent envelop. C

From delivery position the chains are doubled back around guide rolls 10, 10 to feeding position where'they again cooperate withthe drum. A tensioning roll 12 carrying a weight, of for example 60 pounds or more, maintains the chains under sufficient tension as a greater or less supply of envelops are carried between the drum and chains. The envelops or other articles are gummed out by hand and placed on the conveyor belt in suitable overlapping relation. Chains 19 extend around the rolls 20, 21 which are positively driven to guide and feed the envelops to the drying drum 5 and to hold them in established overlapping relation.

Skids or guides 22 are positioned between the conveyor belt and the drum to properly direct the envelops in their. travel. The yieldable rolls 20, 21 are urged toward the skids and drum by springs 23 so that the envelops are substantially gripped between the chains 19 and the skids 22 and between the chains and drum as they pass forward to and around the drying drum 5.

A suitable gumming means is provided for applying gum to the envelop flaps as they are conveyed forward to the drying region. The means shown consists of a gumming roll 25 suitably supplied with gum from a gum. box 26. Ordinarily the gumming roll need not be positively driven.

After the envelops are dried they pass from between the drying drum and chains to a suitable stacking means. As herein shown the stacking means comprisesa conveyor belt 29 positioned to receive the'enve ops from the chains and carry them against a stop 30 which holds back the envelops causing them to pile up for removal by the operative.

The chains 6 may be vofany suitable con- 'struction. As shown, they are of the common sprocket chain type, sufliciently wide to prevent lateral turning and bending thereof, and they provide, upon their envelop engaging faces, relatively small projections which present a smooth, preferably polished,

It is desirable. to lubricate thegum engag- -1 ng projections with glycerin, or other e uivalent substance, to further prevent gum rom adhering thereto. For this purpose a fountain pad 32 may be provided, comprising a reservoir and a suitable felt'mo'unted there-. in, the pad "being mounted to be engaged by the chain as it passes along its idle run, over the guides to the envelop engaging parts of its traveL- If, preferred the pad may be simply cleaned and wiped with glycerin or other suitable lubricant nce ortwice each day. 4 r

. The projections, especially when treated with glycerin, may bear against the (gummed areas with 'sufiicient pressure to hol the envelop firmly against the drum and yet they will not leave objectionable markin thereon. The chains may be made always of suflicient strength to entirely avoid breaking with the attendant difliculties and ,they may be tensioned to support any required load. The

chains--19 may be of the same type as the v chains 6 but in view of the fact that the envelops are not gummed when engaged by this chain and in View of the fact that this chain engages the envelops with considerable pressure a chain without such long and in one sense relatively sharp projections engaging the envelop 5 is preferred. The size and speed of the drying drum are such that by the time the envelops are delivered over the roll 12 the gummedfiaps will be dry enough to prevent adherence to each other. While I have described particularly only one embodiment of the invention for the purpose of illustration, it will be obvious that the principles of the invention may be applied in various ways without de arting from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A drying apparatus of the characte described comprising, in combination, a rotatable drum, a chain partially encircling the drum to hold gummed articles thereagainst, said -chain having flat links with their edges presenting narrow bearing faces arranged to engage .the gummed areas substantially as described. 2. A drying apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination a rotatable drum, a chain partially encircling the drum to confine, the work against the drum, and means for lubricating the work engaging face of the chain.

3. A drying apparatus of the character described,-comprising in combination a rotatable drum, a chain partially encircling said-drum and arranged to hold gummed work thereagainst, said chain-being formed to engage the gummed surface of the work at spaced points, and means fortensioning said chain to hold the work firmly against the drum.

4:. A drying apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination a rotatable drum element, and a chain conveyin element partially encircling the drum,'sai two elements cooperating to confine the work therebetween, and one of said elements being provided with a plurality of projections to engage the gummed surfaceof the work. A

5., A drying apparatus of the character describedcomprlsing a drum, a flat link chain partially encircling said drum, certain of the links of said chain having relatively small projections facing said drum.

6. A conveyor for gummed paper having a plurality of conveyor elements between which the gummed paper is carried with one element engagin articles against said drum with the gummedside out, said flexible'elemnt having relatively small metallic projections adapted to engage the gummed surface of the conveyed articles. V v

8. A drying apparatus of the character described for drying freshly gummed envelops comprising a drum and tensioned to hold gummed envelopes against the. drum, a chain partially encircling said drum and means for feeding envelops in 'overla ped relation'to andbetween the drum and c ain with the gummed face projections engaging the gummed faces of the envelops. 9. The method of handling gummed work which comprises holding'the metal elements and lubricating the gum engaging metal face substantiall as described. 10. The method of handlin v paper which comprises engaging t e gummed surface of the paper by engaging said chain,. said chain being formed to provide spaced work between glimmedlubricated with glycerin.

11. A conveyor of the character describedcomprising a drum, a' flexible element partially encircling said drum to hold gummed articles thereagainst, said flexible element having relatively small metallic spacing projections standin out therefrom to engage the gummed sur ace of theconv'eyed articles and space the element therefrom.

12. A dr ing apparatus of the character described, or drying freshly gummed envelops comprising a drum, a chain partially encircling said .drum and "having relatively 13. In an apparatus of the character described a plurality ofchains and guide 1 means for said chains arranged to support position gummed gummed said chain being formed with relatively small rojections en- 7 gaging the gumme'd areas of t earticles supported thereby. p

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 14th day of August, 1923 JAY e. SWAB.

means of elements small (sipacin projections engaging the gumme suraces and spacing the ":chain therefrom. 

